89R6067 KJE-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 2189
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to methods to improve health profession-related career and
technology education and dual credit programs offered by school
districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 29.193 and 29.195 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.193. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR HEALTH
PROFESSION-RELATED PROGRAMS. (a) The agency shall make available
at no cost to school districts high-quality instructional materials
for use in health profession-related career and technology
education programs provided under this subchapter.
(b) The instructional materials under Subsection (a) may
include:
(1) material designed to cover all essential knowledge
and skills for a course offered through a health profession-related
career and technology education program under this subchapter; or
(2) supplemental materials designed to complement,
enrich, or extend a particular subject area included in a health
profession-related career and technology education program under
this subchapter.
Sec. 29.195. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF SHARING LABORATORY
RESOURCES FOR HEALTH PROFESSION-RELATED PROGRAMS. (a) In this
section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned
by Section 61.003.
(b) The agency, in coordination with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, shall study the feasibility of
creating partnerships between public schools and institutions of
higher education to share educational laboratory resources for
purposes of health profession-related career and technology
education programs under this subchapter.
(c) The study must:
(1) identify current educational laboratory resources
at public schools and institutions of higher education that may be
used for health profession-related career and technology education
programs; and
(2) examine methods of creating partnerships,
incentives, or funding mechanisms where appropriate and effective
to facilitate the sharing of educational laboratory resources for
health profession-related career and technology education
programs.
(d) Not later than December 1, 2026, the agency, in
coordination with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
shall submit to the legislature a report on the study required by
this section and any recommendations for legislative or other
action.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. Chapter 2308A, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 2308A.0075 to read as follows:
Sec. 2308A.0075. REVIEW OF CERTAIN HEALTH
PROFESSION-RELATED DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS. (a) The agency,
coordinating board, and commission jointly shall review the
curriculum of courses in health profession-related career and
technology education programs that are offered for joint high
school and college credit at public schools in this state to ensure
that those programs:
(1) align with requirements for health
profession-related certificate and degree programs at institutions
of higher education; and
(2) allow for the stacking of credentials to reduce
duplication of effort.
(b) The agency, coordinating board, and commission shall
consult with both academic and practicing health care professionals
in conducting the review under Subsection (a).
(c) Not later than December 1, 2026, the agency,
coordinating board, and commission jointly shall submit to the
legislature a report on the review conducted under Subsection (a)
that includes a description of actions taken by those agencies to
accomplish the purposes described by that subsection and any
recommendations for legislative or other action.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 3. Section 29.193, Education Code, as added by this
Act, applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.